Wireless phone powered inductive loopset

• US 7,117,010 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shively, David, Frerking, Mel
• Primary Examiner(s): Swerdlow, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pendleton, Dionne H.
• Application Number:
  US10/448,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/423, 455/426.1, 455/74.1, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/572, 455/100, 455/573, 455/127.5, 455/574, 455/127.1, 455/575.2, 455/351, 379/52, 381/94.6, 381/312, 381/316, 381/315, 381/322, 381/314, 381/331, 381/94.1, 333/124, 333/17.3, 333/32, 320/138, 320/117, 320/108
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

An induction-type loopset is provided that is connectable to a wireless device. The loopset contains a first coil electromagnetically coupled to a t-coil hearing aid and an impedance-matching device coupled to the first coil. The impedance-matching device is responsive to an audio signal from the wireless device. The induction-type loopset is powered from the power source of the wireless device. The power source is responsive to an activation state of the wireless device.

Claims

1. An induction-type loopset for the hearing impaired configured to be connected to a wireless device comprising:

a first coil configured to be electromagnetically coupled to a t-coil hearing aid; and

an impedance-matching device coupled to the first coil, the impedance-matching device being responsive to an audio signal from a wireless device, and wherein the induction-type loopset is selectively powered from the power source of the wireless device via a switch responsive to an activation state of the wireless device.

2. The loopset of claim 1, further comprising a microphone, wherein the microphone is selectively supplied power responsive to the activation state of the wireless device.

3. The loopset of. claim 2, wherein the microphone is selectively supplied power independently from the power being supplied to the loopset.

4. The loopset of claim 1, wherein the switch is embedded in the wireless device.

5. The loopset of claim 1, wherein the switch is placed in an auxiliary device between the wireless device and the loopset.

6. A method for selectively supplying power to an induction-type loopset for the hearing impaired, comprising the steps of:

connecting a wireless device to the loopset; and

selectively supplying power to the loopset from the wireless device via a switch responsive to an activation state of the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of selectively supplying power comprises the step of detecting a change in the activation state of the wireless device and controlling a switch based on the detecting step.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the switch is located within the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the switch is located outside of the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the switch is embedded in the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the switch is placed in an auxiliary device between the wireless device and the loopset.